Banjo



(No Model.)

I. GONSALVI. BANJO.

No. 568,297. Patented'Sept. 22, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ICILIO CONSALVI, OF REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,297, dated September 22, 1896. Application filed February 2'7, 1896. Serial No. 581,033- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Iornro CONSALVI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Revere, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a banjo that will give forth finer and more distinct and resonant tones than banjos of ordinary construction.

The invention consists in forming the tightening-ring with a deep groove in its upper edge and inserting therein the outer edge of a resonant ring of ogee form, the inner portion of which projects over the head, portions of said ring being cut away for the tailpiece and strings, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top view of the head of a banjo embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the rim.

A represents the ring or body of the banjo, which may be of any desired construction; B, the head. 0 is the tightening-ring, which has formed in its upper edge a deep peripheral groove 0, into which is inserted the outer edge of an ogee resonant ring D and secured therein by screws d. (See Fig. 2.) The inner edge of this ogee resonant ring D projects over toward the center of the head, but is cut away, as shown at d 01 for the tailpiece E and the strings to pass through.

The tightening-ring O is held by tightening-screws F, the upper edges of which are formed with a lip that overlaps the top outer edge of said tightening-ring C and enters the groove 0.

The screws cl that secure the resonant ring D to the tightening-ring O are so arranged that they will be covered by the tighteningscrews F.

By reason of the resonant ogee ring D projecting over the upper surface of the head of the banjo it is caused to partake of all the vibrations of the head and will vibrate in unison therewith, and the sound vibrations of the head are collected under said ring. The sounds are thus concentrated and delivered toward the center of the head with much greater effect, the sounds being louder, finer, and more distinct and resonant in tone than with banjos of ordinary construction. The ogee resonant ring also gives strength to the rim or body, so that warping will be prevented.

What I claim is- In abanjo a tightening-ring having a deep peripheral groove in its upper edge in combination with a resonant ring secured in said groove by screws and projecting over the head said ring being cut away to admit the tailpiece and strings, and tightening-screws over the heads of the screws that secure the resonant ring to the tightening-ring substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 12th day of December, A. D. 1895.

- IGILIO CONSALVI.

Witnesses:

JAMES R. MURPHY, ARTURO DE FILIPPO. 

